How We Turned an Overgrown Backyard Into a Family Oasis (Plus Our DIY Shed Build)
- Claudia Wessner
- Jul 20
- 4 min read
Updated: Aug 3
If you've ever looked at an overgrown backyard and wondered if it could ever become the space you imagined, you're not alone. Here's how we transformed ours from an overgrown jungle into a level backyard, a custom DIY shed, and a family space we actually use every day.
When we first walked through our backyard after buying this house, most people probably would've seen an overgrown mess.
We saw the backyard it could become.
Sure, that possibility involved overgrown garden beds, knee-high weeds, and more trees than we knew what to do with. It also meant months of hard work, but we could picture what it could become.
A little over a year later, we're finally starting to see that vision come to life—and it's been quite the adventure.
The Vision of a Dream Backyard
There were thirteen raised garden beds that had long since been overtaken by weeds and knee-high grass. Trees loomed over the house, and everything felt overgrown. You could barely tell where the yard ended and the gardens began. It looked more like an abandoned homestead than a place where two little girls and our energetic Vizsla, Cedar, could run around.
But underneath all that chaos was a backyard just waiting for a second chance.
Like many home improvement projects, our original plan evolved along the way. At first, we talked about adding onto the existing garage to create more space. The more we planned, though, the more it made sense to build a separate garage-sized shed instead.
Our current garage had become less of a garage and more of a giant storage unit. Lawn equipment, tools, seasonal decorations, bikes, oversized project materials...you name it, it was in there.
Our dream? Reclaim the garage so we could actually park in it.
Phase One: Taming the Jungle
Before we could build anything, we had to tackle the yard itself.
We strategically removed several trees—some were unhealthy, others were hanging directly over the house—before bringing in a contractor to regrade and level the backyard. It was a huge undertaking, but it created the foundation for the rest of our backyard transformation.
For several weeks, our backyard looked like a full-blown construction site. Heavy equipment was everywhere, dirt was being moved by the truckload, and the giant excavation had everyone in the neighborhood talking.
More than a few neighbors stopped to ask the same question: "Are you putting in a pool?"
Unfortunately for our two girls, who were very excited by this rumor, the answer was a disappointing no.
Instead, we were creating something much less exciting to a six- and eight-year-old...a level yard. 😂
As adults, though? We knew this was going to be the foundation for everything else we wanted to do. And honestly, I don't think I was fully prepared for how dramatic the transformation would be.
Suddenly, we could finally see the backyard we'd imagined from day one. Instead of an uneven, overgrown space, we had a beautiful open yard where the kids could run, Cedar had endless zoomie territory, and there was finally room for all of us to enjoy being outside.
It was one of those moments when all the planning suddenly felt worth it.
Enter: The Shed
Once the new grass had established itself, it was finally time for the main event.
And when I say we built a shed... I mostly mean my incredibly talented husband and a handful of amazing friends who willingly gave up multiple weekends to help build what is essentially a garage.
Honestly, if you have friends willing to spend their free time assembling a giant shed with you, hang onto those people. They're the real MVPs.
We ordered a DIY shed kit that came with everything precut and ready to assemble, making it the perfect middle ground between building completely from scratch and hiring someone to do everything for us.
You choose the size, customize the details, and then a giant stack of lumber magically appears in your driveway.
If you're less crazy than we are, you can absolutely hire a contractor to assemble it for you.
But where's the adventure in that? 😉
Little by little, weekend by weekend, it has started to look like an actual building instead of an intimidating pile of lumber.
My Time to Shine...with a Paintbrush
Once most of the construction was finished, I got the call. It was painting time.
While my husband and our daughter tackled the giant roller, I claimed the glamorous job of balancing on a ladder for hours while cutting in around the trim.
Normally, I don't mind painting.
Painting something the size of a small house? That's a different story.
Thankfully, a good audiobook makes almost anything more enjoyable. I've been re-listening to the A Court of Thorns and Roses series to prepare for the new books coming out this year. I had just finished the second book when tragedy struck.
One of my earbuds worked itself loose—thanks to what felt like 97 degrees and 100% humidity—and made a perfect swan dive directly into my paint bucket.
RIP, little earbud.
At least it waited until the end of the book. I would've been much more upset if it had happened during a dramatic chapter.
The Home Stretch
We're finally getting close.
Our board-and-batten shed is really starting to take shape as the siding goes up, the windows and doors are installed, and the last of the painting gets finished.
It's amazing how many weekends, sore muscles, and trips to the hardware store it takes before a project starts looking "finished."
Looking back, it's hard to believe this is the same backyard. What once felt like an abandoned forest is slowly becoming the place we imagined from the very beginning.
Now it's a space where our girls can run, Cedar can do endless zoomies, and we can spend time together outside. The shed isn't quite finished yet, but the best part of this project has already happened—we've created a backyard our family actually uses.
We're in the final stretch now, and I can't wait to share the finished shed once the last battens are up and the final coat of paint dries.
In the meantime, enjoy some AI-generated images we used throughout the process to envision some garden ideas and what the shed should look like when it's complete. I'm particularly excited about transforming what I call "the putting green" into a magical fairy garden.
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